Ballymote-Tubbercurry Minutes 2020

Minutes of Meeting of The Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on Monday 19th October 2020 at 15.30 p.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Martin Baker
  • Councillor Michael Clarke (Cathaoirleach)
  • Councillor Martin Connolly
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey
  • Councillor Joseph Queenan
  • Councillor Paul Taylor

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive
  • Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services
  • Marie Whelan, Head of Finance
  • John Moran, A/Director of Services
  • Emer Concannon, Senior Engineer
  • Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Fergus Meehan, Senior Executive Engineer
  • Ray O’Grady, Executive Planner
  • Clodagh Quinn, Staff Officer

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Michael Clarke, presided and welcomed those present to the meeting.

 

1.  MINUTES OF MEETING OF MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF BALLYMOTE-TUBBERCURRY HELD ON 27TH JULY 2020:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on 27th July 2020”.

 

2.  MATTERS ARISING:

There were no matters arising.

 

3.  PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC CONSULTATION OF FEASIBLE OPTIONS FOR THE N17 KNOCK TO COLLOONEY AEC ROAD PROJECT:

Mr. Fergus Meehan, Senior Executive Engineer, took Members through a detailed presentation on the N17 Knock to Collooney Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) Road Scheme which is currently at the ‘Options Selection’ stage. The objective at this stage is to build a business case which will demonstrate economic worth and be strong enough to achieve Government sanction.

Mr. Meehan explained that in this phase, the list of options developed are considered ‘feasible’ but have not yet been tested against the objectives of the project and the effects on the environment, therefore clarity is low.

It is envisaged that by mid next year, the number of options will have reduced with the emerging preferred option established by the end of 2021.

A dedicated website has been developed for the project with call back appointments scheduled for later in the month.

Mr. Meehan advised that any applications for planning permission in the vicinity of any possible routes are examined on a case-by-case basis.

In conclusion, Mr. Meehan advised Members that the option design process is iterative and flexible and broad 500m route corridors currently encompass the route options which represent the current, unclear nature of where certain route options are likely to lie. The final form will be much narrower.

Members welcomed the project and thanked Mr. Meehan for his update, expressing their hope that the timescales as set out in the presentation will be met as the scheme progresses.  

 

4.  SARURE SOUTH SLIGO PROJECT:

Mr. Ray O’Grady, Executive Planner, explained that the SARURE (Saving Rural Retail) project is an international INTERREG Europe co-operation project whose aim is to improve the partner region’s policies in force supporting retail SMEs towards survival, innovation and overall competitiveness.

The project is focused on South Sligo and is a partnership which includes Tubbercurry Chamber of Commerce, South & West Sligo Tourism, Aclare Development Council, Tubbercurry Old Fair Day Committee and the NWRA.

SARURE have been involved in the delivery of a number of events in South Sligo including the Grow Remote International Conference, the Tubbercurry Old Fair Day Festival and the Tubbercurry/South Sligo Smart Community. A range of networking events will also be delivered with the first event held in Ballymote in November 2019.

Mr. O’Grady advised initiatives likely to be included in SARURE’s Action Plan for 2021 and 2022 are:

  • The development of a series of community hubs/community retailing initiatives (Café Fia, Coolaney and Mary Jacks, Tubbercurry).
  • The improvement of the public realm in Tubbercurry.
  • Development of educational initiatives for the retail sector.

In reply to a query from the Cathaoirleach regarding the roll-out of the project to other areas of the County, Mr. O’Grady advised that there may be potential to work with other towns/villages as the policy could relate to the Local and Economic Plan (LECP) which extends County-wide.

Members thanked Mr. O’Grady for his report and complimented the initiative.

 

5.  SPEED REDUCTION MEASURES ON ROAD 94 AT KILGLASS N.S.:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor M. Clarke

AND AGREED

“To ask the Chief Executive to commence the process of reducing speed to 50km on road 94 at Kilglass N.S.”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, informed the meeting that Speed Limit Bye-laws for the County have been recently adopted however the location will be considered in the next speed limit revision process.

 

6.  INCLUSION OF PULL-IN BAYS ALONG THE ROCKFIELD TO CULTIBAR ROAD AT COOLANEY:

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council if pull-in bays can be located along the link road from Rockfield to Cultibar road at Coolaney as the road is only the width of one vehicle.  A land owner is willing to give some ground for a pull-in bay so as to avoid vehicles having to reverse when meeting oncoming traffic”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, reported that there are no available funds to undertake the works at present.  Mr. Kilfeather advised that if the local residents submitted an application for a Community Involvement Scheme to upgrade the road, then pull-in bays could be installed as part of the works.

 

7.  RESURFACING REPAIRS & TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES ALONG BACK ROAD AT STONEPARKS, BALLYMOTE:

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council if resurface repairs and traffic calming measures can be put in place to slow down traffic along the back road at Stoneparks, Ballymote. This road is used daily be school going children attending the national school, Corran College second level and also daily by residents from Marren Park (58+ houses), Earls Court (30+ houses) and it has got busier also as traffic are using it as a shortcut to the new primary health care centre”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, stated that repairs to the road will be carried out in the coming week. The Council will also carry out a survey of the traffic speed along the road and decide what traffic calming measures are required.

 

8.  STRENGTHENING & RE-SURFACING WORKS ON ROAD NUMBER L53024-0:

Proposed by Councillor G. Mullaney
Seconded by Councillor M. Connolly

AND AGREED

“To call on Sligo County Council to strengthen and re-surface road number L53024-0 as soon as funds allow”.

Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services on behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, informed the meeting that road number L-53024 is not on the current multi-annual restoration improvement programme which expires in 2021 however he assured Members that the road will be included on the next three-year programme as a priority.

 

9.  COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED ONE-WAY SYSTEM ON PIER ROAD, ENNISCRONE:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To ask the Director of Services when will the proposed one-way system commence on Pier Road, Enniscrone?”.

On behalf of Mr. Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer, Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services, advised that the proposal for a one-way system will be considered in 2021 subject to funding being available. Mr. Kilfeather further advised that consultation would have to be carried out initially before any decision is made.

 

10.  APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS ON ENNISCRONE CLIFF BATH PROJECT:

Proposed by Councillor J. Queenan
Seconded by Councillor P. Taylor

AND AGREED

“To ask the Director of Services to confirm that consultants have been appointed on the Enniscrone Cliff Bath Project”.

On behalf of Mr. Ray O’Grady, Executive Planner, Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services, informed the meeting that a team of design consultants were appointed on 29th September 2020 and will be led by a joint venture between NOJI Architects, Sligo and Dorman Architects, Dublin. Ms. Clarke advised that the scoping and survey elements of the scheme are currently underway and will be followed by design and consultation stages before a final design is presented for Part 8 approval next year.

Following a query from Councillor Joseph Queenan, Ms. Clarke added that the consultation process will begin in earnest next year.

 

11.  CORRESPONDENCE:

Noted. 

 

12.  ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

Members expressed their hope that should another national lockdown be introduced, that construction projects could continue along with the daily work carried out by the Council’s outdoor staff.

The Chief Executive, Mr. Ciarán Hayes, replied by stating that the Executive would have to be guided by Government decisions. 

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to John Higgins, Culfadda, Ballymote, Co. Sligo on the death of his sister Annie Mangan”.

 

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Bridie McHugh, Carha, Coolaney, Co. Sligo on the death of her brother Patrick Meehan”.

 

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Chris Quinn, Rathmullen, Ballymote, Co. Sligo on the death of his brother Kevin”.

 

Proposed by Councillor D. Mulvey
Seconded by Councillor J. Queenan

AND AGREED

“That a vote of sympathy be extended to Paddy Healy, Pearse Road, Ballymote, Co. Sligo on the death of his wife Margaret”.

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 16.25 p.m.

 


Meeting Date 19/10/2020